Sacramento State vs. Pacific Oaks College

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, CA with Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Sacramento is larger than Pacific Oaks College based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 1,068 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Pacific Oaks College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California State University Sacramento is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific Oaks College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Sacramento 24:1; Pacific Oaks College 11:1.

Sacramento State vs. Pacific Oaks College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State or Pacific Oaks College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Sacramento are 0.1% lower than at Pacific Oaks College ($19,174 vs. $19,185).
• Pacific Oaks College is 305.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sacramento State (about $24,502 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $8,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.7% higher at Pacific Oaks College than at California State University Sacramento (about $11,902 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $20,618.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at Pacific Oaks College (82% vs. 0%).

Sacramento State vs. Pacific Oaks College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sacramento State or Pacific Oaks College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pacific Oaks College and Sacramento State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Sacramento 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Sacramento 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sacramento State - Test-free; Pacific Oaks College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026.
• Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than Pacific Oaks College (34.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Sacramento State vs. 22.7% at Pacific Oaks College.

Sacramento State vs. Pacific Oaks College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sacramento State and Pacific Oaks College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than Pacific Oaks College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $42,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Sacramento graduates have a $5,217 lower median loan debt than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($15,750 vs. $20,967).
• Among borrowers, Sacramento State graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($162 vs. $216).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific Oaks College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.